Chapter 42 42
Denzel’s POV
“Send her away. Give her to the Lycans. Cast her out.” Her voice shook as she spoke, tears spilling from her eyes. “Then I’ll know I have nothing to worry about.”
There was a time those words those tears would have gutted me. Tonight, they didn’t.
“Every day,” she continued, her voice breaking deliberately, “I’m terrified you’ll start sleeping with her. That I’ll have to share you. That you’ll forget me and choose her instead. I worry constantly, Denzel. It’s bad for me, and it’s bad for the baby.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I need peace of mind. And I won’t have it as long as she’s here. I know you’ve both rejected each other, but I still want her gone. Please.”
She wept harder, shoulders trembling.
It took everything in me not to react.
I knew those tears were fake. Carefully measured. A performance meant to manipulate me, just like everything else she did.
“Sleep, Jalisa,” I said evenly. “I want to sleep. I have a long day tomorrow.”
I lay back on the bed, turning away from her. She reached for me anyway, her hand brushing my arm. I shifted farther from her touch.
“You still reek of Tyrell,” I lied coldly. “Keep your distance until you deal with his scent.”
That did it. She stiffened, then withdrew. Silence followed, heavy and strained. Eventually, exhaustion claimed me but not before I noted one grim truth.
That would be the last night Jalisa and I ever shared a bed.
I just hoped she wouldn’t decide to stab me in my sleep.
I woke early and prepared for the journey to the bear kingdom, moving through my routine with mechanical precision. I made sure I reached my office before linking Venessa.
“Venessa,” I called through the bond.
It took her a moment to respond.
“I see your promotion has made you lazy,” I teased lightly.
She giggled, and the sound settled something raw inside my chest.
“Good morning, Alpha,” she said.
Her voice in my mind felt like a balm. I had been bruised emotionally and otherwise and she was a blessing the goddess herself had sent me.
“Dress formally,” I told her. “We’re making an official visit together this morning. Bring your assistant as well you’ll need someone to talk to. It’s a long drive.”
“Okay, Alpha. I’ll tell Tonya to get ready. Thank you.”
I closed the link, irritation stirring beneath the surface. Ever since Jalisa became pregnant, Venessa had stopped calling me by my name. She’d let go so easily without knowing the child might not even be mine. Without knowing Jalisa had been cheating.
I would confront her about it.
Her explanation needed to be good.
I drafted a brief undertaking and agreement for Alpha Keon, then retrieved my chequebook. That was when Tyrell walked into my office, fully dressed and smiling.
“Good morning, Denzel.”
It took considerable restraint not to punch him.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked flatly.
He glanced down at himself. “Aren’t we heading to the bear kingdom this morning? Rayon’s prepping three cars for the convoy.”
I shook my head.
“You won’t be coming.”
His smile faltered. “What?”
“I need you here. Pack matters.”
His face fell. “Let Rayon handle it. I’m the Beta.”
“The troops involved were under Rayon’s command,” I said calmly. “He’ll need to explain himself.”
Tyrell’s expression darkened.
“Then Devon”
“No.” I cut him off. “You’re staying.”
He opened his mouth to argue, so I shut it down.
“That’s an order.”
He frowned.
“I need you here to manage the pack and my wife,” I added. “You understand Jalisa better than anyone. She listens to you. Keep things stable while I’m gone.”
He nodded, clearly unhappy.
“This is about the foxglove incident, isn’t it?” he asked quietly. “You’ve been distant since then.”
His guilt gnawed at him and I would have believed him, if not for last night.
“I was disoriented,” he continued quickly. “I couldn’t hear properly. My vision was compromised. I couldn’t smell anything. I would never have left you to fight alone, Denzel. We’re best friends. I would never betray you.”
He scoffed. “Venessa insinuating I was already healing is bullshit. She lied. Think about it she can’t manipulate me with her looks like she can everyone else. So the easiest way to get me out of the way is to turn us against each other. Don’t let her do that.”
I feigned surprise.
“All this because I asked you to stay behind?” I said lightly. “Of course I trust you. I’ve already put the poisoning behind me. I just trust you to handle the pack as well as I would.”
His shoulders relaxed.
“Then why are you taking Venessa with you?” he asked.
I sighed. “They demanded her as part of their terms. They want my healer.”
The tension drained from his face. If I couldn’t see him, I would’ve missed the relief entirely.
“And you’re just going to hand her over?” he pressed.
“She’s a pack member,” I replied coolly. “I won’t give her up. But I do intend to find out why they want her. If they need medical assistance, I’m willing to loan her temporarily.”
He fell silent.
I used that silence to leave the office.
Outside, Rayon had the convoy ready. The minibus waited at the back. Venessa stood nearby, and my breath caught.
She wore a short peach dress that showed off her long, beautiful legs. Dangerously beautiful. A woman meant to be mine.
I must have done something right in a past life for the goddess to send her to me.
Tonya stood beside her in a sky-blue dress, both of them holding their medical bags, faces bright with anticipation.
As we prepared to depart, I sent one final prayer skyward.
Let the king and I reach an agreement.
Let me bring Venessa home.
And let this end without war.